Our top tips for travelling alone

You’ve always dreamed of travelling. The open road, a new city and landscape. Meeting new people.

But you don’t have anyone to do it with.

You’ve waited years and you’re starting think time’s running out.

Well stop waiting. You don’t need to travel with someone. Thousands of people go it alone each year, and you know what? They make friends out on the road. And that’s sometimes better than taking someone with you.

Think about it. You don’t have to discuss where you’re going to eat or which sites to see next. You can decide. And if you don’t like somewhere, you can just leave!

So now you’ve been persuaded to take the leap and travel alone, we’re going to give you some top tips for travelling solo.

Research – The more you know the safer and better equipped you’ll be. So before you pack your bags and book your flight put plenty of time into researching the locations you’re considering.

You might have an idyllic image of the place you’re headed in your mind, but in reality it’ll be nothing like that. The only way you’re going to find that out is by researching.

Check out hostels, safe areas, notoriously dangerous areas, reviews and anything else you can get your hands on.

The more you know…

Pack smart – If you’re travelling alone you don’t have anyone to turn to when your luggage makes it onto the wrong flight by mistake. Put all of your medication, some spare clothes and identification in your carry-on luggage.

That way, if your main luggage goes walkies you can survive!

Stay smart – Many first time travellers think that the act of staying safe on the road is some mystifying conundrum that needs to be unravelled before jumping aboard a plane. But it couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, all cities are the same. There are safe parts, and there are un-safe parts.

Just don’t make yourself a target. If you’ve taken heed of tip number one you’ll know what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t. And of course you know not to make yourself out to be a completely lost tourist.

Be bold – You’ve travelled half way across the world. You haven’t done it to spend 4 months on your own have you? You need to have the guts to talk to strangers. Sure it’s scary. A lot of the people you’ll meet will be eccentric and they’ll sure have stories to tell.

But be bold. You have plenty to bring to the table, you need to show it them. If you hide away in the corner of your accommodation and head out on your own day in day out, you’ll end up looking like a lone ranger. And no one makes friends with a lone ranger.

Get uncomfortable – While we’re on the topic of being bold – don’t be afraid to try new things. Scared of heights? Take that opportunity to jump out of plane! Scared of snakes? Go on a hike in the jungle.

Because life’s all about leaping out of your comfort zone!